A variety of observations from Coach Smith

The pictures have been shown and the articles have told the story of a great accomplishment by Gordon Central High School’s fourth consecutive State Literary championship.

There is nothing here but great admiration for the coaches and students of GCHS. We see and read about athletic teams and their accomplishments. Not to take a back seat or to fade into awareness should be the accomplishments of a student body in the academic and performing arts arena.

Back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, this writer learned to appreciate the accomplishments of classmates at Calhoun High who participated in possibly the most difficult of all competitions. I wasn’t one who pursued the academic titles. I did greatly admire those who did. The same is true today as I observe and read about our young people from any of the local schools who excel.

Let these words serve as an encouragement to all local citizens to read and digest the story of those young people who dedicated their efforts to being at the top of the most of important endeavors.

Congratulations are in order for head coach Dr. Kim Watters, her assistants and instructors at Gordon Central. The accomplishments did not come by accident; the championship reflected the greatest of discipline in study and performance. The story is one to be told, recorded and remembered through the distant future. It will represent a heritage of greatness to those who learn of it in years to come.

The Heritage Issue of the Calhoun Times is always one to enrich the minds of our current society. One has to be impressed with the fact that the way things are now is not the way they have always been. Without great explanation, readers need to know was worse than half-knowing. It was ignorance coming to life. A careful consideration would have indicated the picture and information was taken from a publication of the Georgia Archives.

This display of lack of knowledge gives me the opportunity to give credence to the late Earnest Ralston’s column titled “What did he say.” Ralston knew, and how well I have learned, that people don’t read accurately much those who write really say. Available in my possession are nearly 100 statements attributed to my writing which do not begin to state what was said. They were the thoughts of the critic.